Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah (a Companion) narrated:
‘The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, visited Umm As- Saa’ib (a woman Companion) and said to her: “What is the matter with you, O Umm As-Saa’ib, why are you shivering so violently?” She said: “I have a fever, may Allah not bless it!” The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alay- hi wa sallam, said: “Do not curse fevers, because they do away with the sins of the children of Adam just as a furnace does away with the im- purities of iron.”1
Umm Al-’Alaa’ (a female Companion) narrated:
‘The Messenger of Al- lah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, visited me while I was sick. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Glad tidings to you O Umm Al-’Alaa’, for Allah removes the sins of a Muslim due to his illness as fire removes the im- purities of gold and silver.”’2
Abu Umaamah (a Companion) narrated:
“A woman from the residence of Al-’Awaali area (in Madinah) became (ex- tremely) sick. The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was the foremost person in visiting the sick. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “If she dies [tonight] then inform me [to pray the funeral prayer over her].” She died at night and people buried her without informing the Messenger of Al- lah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. In the morning, the Messenger of Allah, sallal- laahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, asked about her, and people told him that she had died, and that they hated to wake him up during his sleep. Then he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, offered the funeral prayer over her.”3
Ibn ‘Abd Al-Barr (a scholar) said: “The narration proves that it is per- missible to visit elderly women when they fall sick. However, this is not the case with young women, except if he goes and asks about her health (from her family) without entering upon her.”4